You know when you associate some people with certain smells or foods? Well, I associate darling Rebecca of Everyday Parisian with CROISSANTS! Seriously, she’s a girl who’s soul belongs in a Parisian boulangerie. For real.

If you’ve ever read her blog, you’ll know she’s all about everything Parisian wherever she goes. But luckily, I get to always see her in her element, in Paris!

We did this little session at her amazing Haven In Paris apartment here in Paris during her birthday week! The fresh fruit, coffee, and croissant and baguettes are just the perfect breakfast, and the perfect surrounding for her!

I met Chloe on instagram, she’s a NYC blogger and every single post makes you feel happy. Seriously, if you want a ray of sunlight just check out her blog and instagram. Finally after years of being online friends we got to meet in Paris just before Christmas (yay!!) and I couldn’t feel more honored to photograph these special moments for this soon to be family of 3.

I can’t deal with how sweet this last portrait is... AND IT’S NOT STAGED! Literally they were walking away for a shot and then he did this.

Paris seems to be a city of inspiration for so many creatives... lucky as I am, I get to meet a ton of them who come through. Usually a quick portrait session with a side of coffee is my go to way to get to know them so we can create beautiful portraits together that are relaxed and natural. It’s one of the things that is super important to me, you have to be able to see a little peek into my subjects soul. If you don’t have that, why take the portrait?

At least, that’s my view as an artist.

I think that I simply love people, and photography is my way of expressing it. It’s why I’m not a fashion photographer or a landscape photographer, to be honest, I forget about everything other than the people. To me, everything in life is measured on how it makes humans feel.

Doesn’t this make you want some of that steaming hot cocoa!? Mmmmmm, so good!

Music, art, how peonies smell when they first bloom, your favorite shampoo, herbal tea.. it’s worth is simply how you feel about it. If peonies make you gloriously happy, then pay the few extra bucks to buy a bouquet out of season. That’s my opinion at least.

That’s how I give worth to photography and portraiture in general. Do you look at a portrait and have it transport you back to your favorite vacation? What about that memory of your grandma laughing? Does seeing your great grandparents wedding portrait give you a feeling of family and a sense of legacy?

Whatever art does to you, I hope my art makes you feel like you get to know the people in them. That they give you some of their joy for whatever they’re doing in the portrait.

Per usual, my meeting with Kit of The Kittchen was serendipitous and came together fully at the last minute. I feel like that’s my life tag line (haha). A Maine native, and now living and working in Chicago, we found we had a lot in common.. Funny story, I told my dad about her parent’s BNB in the same town in Maine where we vacation and now our dads have connected. Small world, eh?

In pure Katie form, we took a pit stop at a cafe (Judy Café to be exact!) during her photo session (I mean, it was totally normal, her blog is about food!) and had delicious hot chocolates!! We chatted and just enjoyed walking around in a very misty Paris. If you’re interested in her, head over to her blog. Before we met, she sent it over to me as these portraits are for her blog and social media, and right away I thought, “I need to meet this woman!!”. Don’t you love how that works out sometimes?

Love this shot.. A true Paris experience and being pulled in by the beauty of it all..

Humbled feelings of excitement, and so much gratitude are all whirling through my head right now.. I always dreamed of being interviewed by a national magazine about my crazy road to entrepreneurship.

Spoiler alert: It’s not an easy road. Every day I work, and struggle, and fail at things..

But every day I’m also beyond happy, succeed, and create.

If anyone wants to know what building a business (an empire?) feels like, it’s a lot like this below. A mix of doubts, crazy internal drive, confidence, and knowing that the rug could be pulled out from under you in an instant.

Thank you a million times to Cece, Brittany and the whole team over at Luca Magazine for this piece AND for making this over-excitable brunette one happy girl. GUYS, Pick up a hard copy at your local Barnes and Noble!

Also, thank you thank you to Eden Photography for one of the best portraits EVER of me!

Hey there, gorgeous!

Welcome to the home of Katie Donnelly Photography! I'm Katie, the owner and creative behind this Paris and NYC based engagement and family portrait photography brand. I laugh loudly, I love hard, and I can eat a pound of pasta in a sitting. (Seriously, ask my husband) I love celebrating everyday moments (with champagne of course!) and documenting the weird, the funny, and the wonderful of the everyday through family portraiture. Most days I’m hanging out in Paris or NYC and making art for my KDP portrait clients, or planning the next time I cook for our friends and family. My specialty? Pasta with fresh homemade pesto sauce.

What do you think? Are you the KDP cup of coffee?(that's, cawfee to all you fellow NYers)

Oui oui, madame, I’m sure you are! The KDP family is loving, adventurous and travels the world. You take lots of photos, and road trip with your dog (He sticks his head out the window with his tongue flying in the wind doesn’t he?!). You love enjoying the simplicity life and being silly. You savor the little moments and the big ones. You’re pretty sure that your kids are growing up WAY too fast, but are also excited to see who they become. Your family is your life (they’re probably one of those big crazy families like mine) and you spend a lot of time together talking, laughing, BBQing, and just enjoying each others company.

If this sounds like you, I think we should be friends.. sorry, is it too soon? *ahem* I mean, why don’t you get in touch. Let’s make some artful family portraits for your home..

Doesn’t that beautiful family of yours deserve it?

Katie Donnelly Photography

Paris + NYC PHOTOGRAPHER

"Hey Katie!! I got the album last Thursday and I haven't even gotten a chance to write to you because I've been too busy showing it to friends and family! Thank you so much :). Saying that I loved it is an understatement. You did and amazing job on it and you're an incredible photographer! You helped me keep the memory of my trip in a beautiful way.

Xx

Rossy"

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